Alarm system



Feb. 27, 1934.

J. H. EHRLE ALARM SYSTEM Filed March 16, 19253 M MQ ATTORNE Patented Feb. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES ALARM SYSTEM John H. Ehrle, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application March 16, 1933. Serial No. 661,039

2 Claims.

determined intervals throughout the day and for any of a number of purposes, one of which may be to signal operators of mills, elevators, or buyers and dealers in other commodities, as to just '10 when market quotations are to be given by radio broadcasting. To more specifically illustrate an adaptation of the invention to a practical use, it may be explained that in elevators throughout rural districts where grain and like commodities are purchased at prices based on current market values, it is quite essential that the operators of such elevators be informed as promptly as possible as to fluctuations in such market prices, and this information is quite generally received by radio communication, the market quotations being broadcast at certain hours during the day, and usually from some certain or principle broadcasting station. It is found, however, that the average operator must either continually observe his watch or a clock, or set an alarm clock if he is to `be sure and listen in at the proper hour; and if he should become absorbed in other work or happen to be in some remote part of the building or grounds he will frequently miss the very broadcasting minutes during which he should have been listening in to obtain the price quotations he so much desired to have.

It is also found that while conventional alarm clocks may be employed to advise the operator as 35 to the next broadcasting hour, they are very inconvenientand unpractical, particularly in view of the fact that they require resetting for each successive broadcasting period, and will not automatically function from one day to another in 40 the manner which is almost essential if any alarm device is to be continued in use and prove satisfactory to the operator. The conventional alarm clock is also undesirable because it will frequently be unheard by the operator when he is in some other part of the building.

To overcome these objections I have devised a comparatively simple alarm system, including a control mechanism and housing adapted for utilizing a conventional time piece, and which is easily adjustable, and after once being set will operate day after day in a very simple and ei'- cient manner.

In the accompanying drawing, Which illustrates a practical embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the signal circuit system, and showing the timing mechanism in front elevation.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view through a portion of the timer mechanism, as seen on the irregular line 2 2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail View as seen substantially on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective detail View of one of the contact levers employed in the time control mechanism.

Referring to the drawing more particularly and by reference characters, A generally designates a housing or shell which is adapted to receive a conventional clock or other time piece designated generally by the letter B. It may be found necessary to remove the usual outer shell or housing of the clock, but in any event it is intended that a standard or conventional time piece be employed in order to economize in the cost of production, and when such a time piece is used it is essential that the crystal or glass which covers the dial face be removed so as to expose the hour and minute hands designated as 5 and 6, respectively, in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

The time piece B is of course rigidly secured in any suitable manner within the housing A, and the dial face 7 and hands 5 and 6 are observable through the large central opening defined by a heavy insulation ring or washer 8 which is rigid with the housing A. Secured upon the inner or back face of the insulation ring 8 is a metal ring 9 which, with the ring 8, is adapted to pivotally support a series of contact levers 10, these levers being pivotally secured as by screws 1l. The rings 8 and 9 are provided, preferably at points adjacent each of the hour markings on the dial 7, with holes or perforations 12, so that the levers 10 may be secured at any desired place about the periphery of the dial 7. The levers 10 are adjustably secured by the screws 11 so that when the latter are tightened up the levers will remain in the positions to which they may be adjusted, but by loosening the screws 11 the operator may, by engaging the inner projections 13 of the levers so as to oscillate the inner ends about the axis of the respective screws 11.

The inner ends of the levers 10 are preferably covered by insulation pieces 14, except for single lateral flange portions 15 which are suiiiciently exposed so as to form electrical contacts with a brush spring 16, which is riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the hour hand 5. This spring 16 is preferably of angular formation, as

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indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, so that the outer end will have a sliding or brushing contact over the lever portions 14 and 15, and when not engaged with the levers 10 will lightly slide over the inner face of the ring 8. It may be found desirable to bend the wire 16 rearwardly for slight riding contact with the dial '7, as at 17 in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to partially relieve the strain on the hour hand 5, and also to effect a firmer contact between the brush 16 and the flange 15.

It will be seen that as the hour hand moves comparatively slowly, and as it is not required that an alarm contact be established for any great length of time, that the spring 16 may be so formed as to complete a circuit contact with the flange 15 over as short a period as possible, and consequently only the extreme end of the brush 16 need touch the flange 15 at all.

The circuit arrangement includes a pair of main line wires 18, having terminals 19 and 20. The terminal 19 is connected by a wire 21 to the time piece B or to the central spindle thereof, so as to supply current to the hour hand 5 and the brush 16. This wire may also have a switch 22 so that the system can be shut off during the night or at other times when no quotations are being broadcast. But as soon as the switch 22 is closed the system is in an operative condition. From the terminal 20 extends a wire 23 which, as shown, includes a relay switch 24, a lamp signal 25, a buzzer 26, and an alarm bell 27; and from the latter extends to and contacts with the metal ring 9 so as to provide current to the levers 10 and particularly the contact flanges 15 thereof. The signailing elements 25, 26, and 27 are of course purely illustrative, and may of course include fewer or more signalling elements of the same or other types. In other words, the circuit 23 is intended to extend not only to a signalling element in the same room with the control mechanism, but may extend to and have signalling devices in other parts of the building, or wherever additional signals may be found desirable.

In any event, it will be understood that should the device be set, as indicated in Fig. 1, to sound an alarm at ten oclock, one of the levers 10 will be attached as shown so that a contact will be established between the brush 16 and the flange 15 of that lever, when the hour hand reaches the ten oclock position on the d`al of the clock. If it is not desired to have the signal sounded until well after the even hour, then the lever 10 can be adjusted to an angular position, as indicated adjacent the iigure 11 on the dial so that the circuit closing contact will not be established until the desired time. It may be explained that in order to accurately set the device so that the circuit will be closed at exactly the proper moment,

then it is found best to first set the two hands of the clock at the hour and minute desired, and to then swing the adjacent lever 10 over until a contact is made with the brush 16, and this in turn will insure a second contact with this same lever at the same hour and minute on succeeding days.

It may also here be noted that the relay switch 24 is provided for the purpose of closingr a secondary circuit 28, which in turn may be the radio control circuit, in which event the radio circuit would be automatically energized at the same time that the alarm circuit is energized. In the absence of a relay control switch such as 24, it is of course understood that the operator will have to manually control the radio unit proper.

It is understood that suit-able modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising an annular frame, a clock in the frame, said frame having an insulation ring adjacent the periphery of the clock dial, a contact member adjustably secured to the ring and spaced forwardly with respect to the clock dial face, a brush secured to one of the clock hands for movement between the dial and contact member and for circuit closing engagement with the latter during such movement, said brush having a. bearing point in constant contact with the dial face so as to relieve the brush carrying hand of strain when circuit closing contacts are made, and an alarm device in circuit with said brush and contact member.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising an annular frame, a clock in the frame, said frame having an insulation ring adjacent the periphery of the clock dial, a contact member adjustably secured to the ring and spaced forwardly with respect to the clock dial face, a brush secured to one of the clock hands for movement between the dial and Contact member and for circuit closing engagement with the latter during such movement, said brush having a bearing point in constant contact with the dial face so as to relieve the brush carrying hand of strain when circuit closing contacts are made, and an alarm device in circuit with said brush and contact member, said brush being of angular formation and including a flexible arm portion extending outwardly from the clock hand to said point of bearing contact with the dial face, and a second arm portion extending from said point of contact and angularly away from the dial face.

JOHN H. EHRLE.

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